5 books high performers should read this month

The Gist: In this exceptionally researched book, New York Times columnist and science writer Carl Zimmer explores the complex world of genetic inheritance. He also touches on the bioethical quandaries that stem from genome-editing technologies.

The Gist: Thanks to a Seinfeld episode, the phrase “I’m Keith Hernandez” is now synonymous with soaring self-esteem. But in this candid memoir, the legendary first baseman reveals how his early years were strewn with insecurities. Hernandez opens up about how he gained the confidence to thrive in the major leagues.

The Gist: Noted food writer Anissa Helou celebrates the dishes of Arab, Persian, Mughal, and North African cooking in her latest tome. It’s a colossal effort of more than 300 recipes (like rice and shrimp mashbuss) steeped in history and local custom.

The Gist: The Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, who has four children, explores the meaning of fatherhood with seven essays. The highlight is a deeply resonating piece, originally published in GQ, on accompanying his “sartorial wild child” of a 13-year-old to Paris Fashion Week.

The Gist: In his latest book, investigative journalist Michael Pollan shifts his attentions from food and agriculture to psychedelics. His most personal read yet explores the current “renaissance” of psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin and their potential to heal mental illness and “help unravel some of the mysteries of consciousness.”